BIOGRAPHY
A native of Providence, Rhode Island,
Roderick MacDonald began his musical studies at a young age. As a child, he
received private instruction on both piano and trumpet. His passion for music
continued to grow as he advanced through his youth. In 1982 he was awarded the prestigious
“Leonard Bernstein Fellowship” at The Tanglewood Institute for trumpet study.
He went on to earn degrees in Mechanical Engineering at University of Rhode
Island (BS 1986) and Music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston
(MM 1988). Upon completion of his masters degree at New England Conservatory
Kurt Masur, then Music Director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, appointed
him principal trumpet (1989). His career as a concert soloist began shortly
after this appointment and has since appeared worldwide as a trumpet soloist
with highly regarded ensembles including: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Japan
Philharmonic, Virtuosi Saxonia, Bach Collegium Munich, Leipzig Bach Orchestra,
Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, Concerto Leipzig, Kammerphilharmonie
Leipzig, and the Super World Orchestra (Tokyo). Most recently, Mr.
MacDonald appeared as a soloist with the Norwalk Symphony in Connecticut. With
a discography of over 25 recordings with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, he can also
be heard on recordings with the Leipzig Baroque Soloists, solo recordings, and
numerous other chamber and orchestral albums. One of his solo albums was named
"CD of the Month" by Naxos in December 2003.
Roderick MacDonald also excels as an
orchestral conductor. A conducting pupil of Maestro Kurt Masur, Roderick
MacDonald has enjoyed considerable success throughout Germany and the United
States. He also returned to the US to attend the Conductor's Seminar at The
Tanglewood Institute where he studied with Maestro Bernard Haitink. He
completed his formal conducting studies at the Leipzig Conservatory earning a
Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting (1994). In this same year he was
announced as the winner of the “Deutsche Dirigenten Forum”, a conducting
competition in Leipzig. In 2001, Mr. MacDonald received the Honorary
Title of "Kammermusiker" from the city of Leipzig. Since his
return to the US Maestro has been a finalist for the position of Assistant
Conductor of the New York Philharmonic (1997) and Associate Conductor of the
Dallas Symphony (2005). He returns to
Germany each February to conduct members of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in
a benefit concert for cancer research for children which he began in 2000. In
June 2009, Mr. MacDonald served as a guest conductor with the MDR Orchestra at
the Dresden Music Festival. In May 2010 he will embark on a recording project
with flautist Gudrun Hinde-Hoenig.
Mr. MacDonald is currently Associate
Professor of Music at SUNY Fredonia. He also maintains an active performing and
conducting career. Mr. MacDonald has held master classes at various music
schools across the United States including Boston Conservatory, New England
Conservatory and Purchase College, State University of New York. Mr. MacDonald
currently resides in Darien, CT and Fredonia, NY.